Surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus

Abstract

A surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus includes an objective optical system having an optical axis and emits two focusing beams in parallel with the optical axis toward the objective optical system. If a focal point of the objective optical system agrees with a surgical field, the two focusing beams converge to a single spot on the surgical field, and if disagrees with the surgical field, form two spots on the surgical field. According to the state of the spots, it is possible to quickly determine with naked eye or on a monitor whether or not the focal point is on the surgical field.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus, comprising:
 a lens barrel including an optical unit for providing stereoscopic optical images of a surgical field and an imaging sensor for picking up the stereoscopic optical images provided by use of the optical unit and outputting a stereoscopic image signal, 
 a stand supporting the lens barrel and moving the lens barrel to a selectable position, and 
 a panel monitor displaying stereoscopic images according to the stereoscopic image signal provided by the imaging sensor, wherein: 
 the optical unit at least includes a single objective optical system and a pair of variable power optical systems, a pair of left and right beams respectively passing through the pair of variable power optical systems in parallel with an optical axis of the objective optical system and guided directly or after reflection into the variable power optical systems; 
 the lens barrel includes a pair of beam emitters for emitting two focusing beams in parallel with the optical axis of the objective optical system toward the objective optical system; 
 the pair of beam emitters are aligned with each other in a direction that is orthogonal to a direction in which the pair of variable power optical systems are aligned with each other, such that each of the pair of beam emitters is offset ninety degrees from each of the pair of variable power optical systems in a circumferential direction of the lens barrel; 
 the pair of beam emitters and the pair of variable power optical systems overlap each other in a longitudinal direction of the lens barrel; and 
 the two focusing beams converge to a focal position of the objective optical system. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the focusing beams and the beams for the variable power optical systems define different optical paths in the objective optical system in order not to interfere with each other. 
     
     
       3. The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 movable parts of the stand supporting the lens barrel are provided with electromagnetic clutches to lock and unlock the movable parts, the magnetic clutches being unlocked when a releasing switch is operated, so that the stand is put in a movable state and the lens barrel becomes movable to a selectable position and orientation; and 
 the beam emitters emit the focusing beams when the releasing switch is operated. 
 
     
     
       4. The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a focal length of the objective optical system is variable by operating a focusing switch and the beam emitters emit the focusing beams when the focusing switch is operated. 
     
     
       5. The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a releasing switch for unlocking electromagnetic clutches to unlock movable parts; and 
 a focusing switch for varying a focal length of the objective optical system, 
 wherein the beam emitters are interlocked with the releasing switch and the focusing switch, and 
 wherein while either of the releasing switch and the focusing switch is being depressed, the beam emitters continue to emit the focusing beams. 
 
     
     
       6. The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one handle; 
 a releasing switch for unlocking electromagnetic clutches to unlock movable parts, the releasing switch arranged on the at least one handle; 
 a focusing switch for varying a focal length of the objective optical system, the focusing switch arranged on the at least one handle; and 
 a controller, 
 wherein the beam emitters are interlocked through the controller with the releasing switch and the focusing switch, and 
 wherein while either of the releasing switch and the focusing switch is being depressed, the beam emitters continue to emit the focusing beams. 
 
     
     
       7. The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam emitters comprise two beam emitters for emitting the two focusing beams, respectively. 
     
     
       8. The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the emitting the beams comprises discharging a respective beam directly from an end of each of the beam emitters. 
     
     
       9. The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam emitters comprise semiconductor laser emitters that emit laser beams as the focusing beams.